Interview: Ittoku Kuwazu

Interviews: Ittoku Kuwazu 

Translated & Interpreted by Jeremy Barlow © Soundwave's Oblivion 2024. 

Interview from Figure King 320 (October 2024) 

“I'm aiming to replicate the exact style I saw in the movie.” 

Brave Commander Development Story 

Ittoku Kuwazu (Development Manager) 

Ittoku Kuwazu joined Takara Tomy in 2015 after studying moulding technology at a technical university. Following his time in the production department, he requested to join the Transformers team. His first project was Studio Series 86 Jazz. As noted in this interview, he is now primarily responsible for MPG development, taking over from Kojin Ono. 

- To begin, could you share some background on this project? 

When we learned that we would be developing 'ONE' we decided to create a flagship item for the domestic market in a similar manner to last year's 'Awakened Optimus Primal' from 'Beast Awakening'. I was chosen to lead the project due to my successful track record with overseas development teams. I had also heard that Hasbro was planning a large-scale Optimus Prime product (Ultimate Power Change), so to avoid any overlap, we focused on refining the proportions and accurately reproducing the vehicle mode, aiming to create an item that would resonate with Japanese fans. 

- Could you share the key aspects of the development process? 

The characters in 'ONE' feature long legs and distinctive shoulder shapes, and Optimus Prime's design differs from previous versions. We worked to incorporate this unique style into the toy. Our primary reference was the designs provided by Hasbro, which we updated whenever we received the latest iterations. Fortunately, this time the final design didn’t deviate much from the original material, allowing us to accurately replicate the on-screen appearance with minimal changes. Our goal was to capture a style that reflects exactly what we saw in the movie. 

- It's also packed with a variety of gimmicks. 

Since it's a large product, we were able to maintain accurate proportions while incorporating several gimmicks. One of the key features is the removable Matrix, which is stored in the chest, and the figure can also hold it in both hands. Additionally, it includes a mask-changing gimmick, similar to the one in 'Awakened Optimus Primal.' The mask can not only switch between two styles but also adds double the value by allowing it to resemble both Orion Pax and Optimus Prime. 

- The shoulder cannon gimmick is a feature that hasn’t been commonly included in previous Optimus figures. 

The cannons are designed to flip out in vehicle mode, and while I wasn't sure how it would be used in the movie during development, I wanted to ensure the cannon gimmick was fun to use in both vehicle and robot modes. To achieve this, I designed it so that the angle of the cannon adjusts depending on the mode, allowing for playability in both forms. 

- The Energy Axe played a key role in the movie.
The Energy Axe was a prominent feature in the initial setup, so I decided to make it as large as possible. Seeing how it was used in the film confirmed that it was the right decision. 

- What was your opinion of "ONE"?
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect before seeing the movie, especially since it’s an origin story for Transformers. However, it stays true to the spirit of "Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers" while avoiding being old-fashioned. The film reimagines the story in a fresh, modern way that captures the best elements of the original, making it an excellent introduction for those looking to enjoy Transformers in the future. I found it to be a well-crafted film that long-time fans can appreciate, with interesting nods to the past, like Orion Pax and Megatron (D-16), as well as homage's and fresh interpretations of previous films. 

- At the beginning of the movie, there's an almost identical version of the toy that makes an appearance… 

I imagine the movie staff likely used the toys as a reference during production (laughs). While I’m not sure what kind of communication Hasbro and Paramount had with the filmmakers, Takara Tomy wasn’t involved in providing any material. In that sense, I felt this movie really draws your attention to the background characters. There were so many that seemed to be around during the G1 era, and I was excited, hoping they might all make an appearance. When the home media is released, I’m definitely looking forward to watching it in slow motion and fully exploring every detail. 

- By the way, Kuwazu-san, how many years have you been involved with Transformers? 

My career, including my time in the production department, spans about 7-8 years, and I believe I've been involved in Transformers development for around 5 years, including my work with the Hasbro team. 

- The development team seems much younger now, especially as we celebrate the 40th anniversary.

Younger team members are increasingly taking the lead, but I believe there’s still much to learn from the veterans. Many people from the generation after me have joined the company, and I’m eager to learn from both my superiors and subordinates every day. I also feel it’s important to properly pass on to the younger generation what it truly means to create toys. 

- "ONE" is also a story of succession, and similarly, the time has come for a new generation to take the lead within the Transformers development team as we celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Much like with Brave Commander, I’ve taken over from veteran Kojin Ono and am now responsible for MPG. There’s a great deal of pressure in taking on the development of MPG, as it carries the rich history of Transformers that everyone has contributed to. At the same time, I feel it's essential to bring a fresh perspective to MPG, setting it apart from the Masterpiece line. In that sense, "MPG-14 God Bomber" is a project that Ono-san started and I brought to production, making it a continuation of his work. I’ve heard that during the G1 era, Super Ginrai and God Bomber were handled by different people and then combined, and seeing the same happen with MPG is quite symbolic, reflecting the long-standing legacy of Transformers.